Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-16
DAILY HERALD.
THE OPERA.
Preparations for the First
Grand Performance.
THIN PLOT OF "LAKME.'
Description of the Arrangement OF
the Interior Of the
Pavilion.

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The pavilioa on Fifth street has UNDER
gone wonderful change. 1t is only
few weeks since ii was floral bower,
and now it is yeritable temple Of music;
and not only has it changed as regards
its seating, but apparently in its shape.
Before ii was square ball, and now it
has a shape similar to any opera house
of great size, and tonight over three
thousand people can be comfortably
seated. To effect this great change there
have been employed about forty carpen.
ters and other workers during the past
week, and there was no intermission yes
-terday, for tonight everything must be
in readiness for the huge opera company
which will arrive on special trains this
morning. 1t is only by careful investi-
cation that anyone is able to estimate
the amount of work that has been
required to transform this building n so
short q time. In the first place, the
seats had to be arranged in such man
ner that every one of the audience could
see the stage; in other words, the seats
had to be raised tier by tier until those
an the back part were nearly on level
vith the first balcony. To do this in
substantial manner required thousands
OF feet of joists and framework, and on
tbese tiers, bolted together with iron
rods, many feet of hoo&ng was laid. On
top Of this the seats are placed. These
stre made something after the shape Of
the wooden slat seals now used in many
1f'the railway coaches. They are com
Portable and fit to the contour of the
body, so that those whs occupy them
will not be tired before the performance
ss over. They are stained dark colored
and are much more finished in appear
ance than might be imagined from the
short time taken in their construction.
These tiers of seats are arranged in
semi-circular shape, leaving quite u
space between the lowest and the stage.
This brings the end seats in range
with the stage and enables their occu
pants to see all that thereon transpires.
SEAT NUMBERS.
There are five sections and six main
aisles. The sections are lettered, com.
mencing from the right looking from the
stage or the left from the entrance on
Fifth street. The numbers in each of
these sections are for every row, and
s,0mmeuce on the side toward Olive
street. Thus when the visitor enters
and walks down the aisle the seats on
his left will be numbered one in every
row. This same arrangement OF num-
6ers prevails in the balconies. There
ure twenty.four rows of seats on the
main floor, and behind these is wide
platform whereon the ushers will stand.
Tho seats in the first balcony are also
raised gradually toward the back. and at
the sides are five rows which are incrsas-
I'd to eight rows in the central portion,
formerly occupied by the restaurant
at the Flswer Festival. Above this
there is a second balcony, which at
the sides will contain three rows
of seats and in the center
six rows. The sections in both these
balconies are also lettGsd in the same
manner as in the body of the house, and
from any portion the full stage can be
seen. All of these seats have been SO
arranged that they can be taken apart
and stored away, leaving the floors as
level as they were two weeks ago. To
light this huge theatre two groups of
electric lights have been suspended from
the ceiling, each group containing four
lights. Besides these there are numer-
GUS gas Jets around the balcony and in
other places where likely to be needed.
From the stage on each side partitions
will shape the auditorium so that it will
cat off diagonal portions of the whole
house, making 1t appear as if 1t were
built to the stage and conforming to the
usual arrangements for theaters.
This will increase the acoustic power
of the house and throw the
sound toward the audience. 1t is
anticipated that the acoustics will be
excellent as the house is at present, but
IL it is found they are defective the
arched rafteIs will be ceiled with a
paper one fourth inoh thick prepared
especially for such o purpose.
THE STAGE.
The stage has been considerably
enlarged since it has been seen by the
people of Los Angeles. 1t now presents
a front OF ~ feet, which is five feet
longer than the stage Of the Grand Opera
House in San Francisco. 1t has also
been widened and is now 40 feet deep.
This will give ample room for tho opera
company and the grand ballets. The
ropes and tackle for thirty-seven sets Of
drops are In place, and these are SO
perfectly arranged that the stage hands
can reach them without the slightest
trouble. The drop curtain which is
only temporary affair, is of
red baize aud will be put
in place to-day. The stage lights
are numerous and the foot lights are to
bs put in place this morning. The
dressing rooms have rot as yet been ar
ranged but they will be placed at the
sides of the stage both. above and below
and there is plenty of room in the base.
nent for five hundred dressing rooms.
They will be arranged early this morn
ng and before the evening everything
will be in order and ready for the vast
audience. The arrangement has been
under the supervision of Colonel Gray
and w. T. Porter has been busily en-
gagged in painting drops and flies, aud
after this season is over he will continue
81 tha xuhaIa ofa0a aaffipn mill he